[Translation.], February 14, 1866

[Translation.]

MEXICAN REPUBLIC—HEADQUARTERS OF THE EASTERN LINE, NO. 2.

Citizen Minister: On the 1st instant I addressed the following circular to the governors and military commanders of the States on the eastern line:

[Circular.]

A grave question has arisen in the country, and has even extended beyond it.

Citizen Benito Juarez, as constitutional President of the republic, on the 8th of November last, prolonged his powers as such, as you will see from the decree printed in No. 29 of the official bulletin of these headquarters, of the present date, which I send to you.

It is assured that General Jesus Gonzales Ortega protested against that decree in the United States, as president of the supreme court of justice, which title is denied to him by citizen Juarez, for reasons you will see in the decree of the same date published in the official bulletin.

The exceptional condition in which the nation has been placed by this foreign war has prevented, and still prevents, the exercise of the chief act of sovereignty, namely, the voting of the free Mexican citizens for the choice of a supreme constitutional magistrate to direct its destinies; and although these headquarters have formed their opinion in the case in favor of the existing order, because it admits the rights of citizen Benito Juarez to hold his position by former election, which has always been the regulating rule for authorities in our general legislation, yet we desire to know the general opinion of the eastern line in a matter of so much importance, and direct you to find out the sentiments of all the Mexicans in your district upon the subject in the most convenient manner, and let us know if they agree in opinion with these headquarters, for my information and consequent action.

I have the honor to transmit you this for the information of the supreme government, expressing the opinion that, judging from the unanimous vote of a great portion of the people that have sent their acts to these headquarters, and by the knowledge I have of the line under my command, I can assure you the people’s will is that citizen Benito Juarez, now President, shall retain the supreme magistracy of the republic till the present war permits a constitutional election of a proper person to succeed him in office.

The letters already received on that subject are too voluminous to be sent with this despatch. For that reason, and because I expect many others which I intend to have printed, I do not send them now, as I desire; but I will send them by the first opportunity, after they are printed, for the information of the supreme government. I will also send them to the citizen minister plenipotentiary of the republic in Washington for his most convenient disposition.